World Environment Day 2011 is on the 5th June. This year’s theme “Forests: Nature at Your Service” underscores the intrinsic link between quality of life and the health of forests and forest ecosystems. David Attenborough has narrated the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP)’s short animated film on the importance of forests to every aspect of our lives. This film was used to formally launch the United Nations ‘International Year of Forests’. The World Environment Day theme also supports this year’s UN International Year of Forests.
It’s worth a watch, here’s a direct link below: http://www.unep.org/flvPlayer/share/default.asp?id=3291&l=en
In England, plans for mass disposal have been halted but Government still wishes to debate the future of the public forest estate. An Independent Panel on Forestry was established in March this year to look at the public forest estate, but its remit is far wider than that – this could be the most critical review of forests and forestry to take place for years! The Trust’s Chief Executive, Sue Holden, has been invited to sit on the Panel along with several other individuals – you can read more about the Panel’s membership and terms of reference at the following link, as well as contribute your experiences and opinions directly to the Panel’s ‘call for views’ using our electronic form: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/panel
Kay Haw, Assistant Conservation Adviser
